This document discusses physical and sexual violence against women and girls. It defines various forms of violence including female genital mutilation, sexual trafficking, rape, and domestic violence. The document outlines the health impacts of violence which can include mental health issues, STDs, infertility and pain. It notes that girls, young women, and those living in poverty or dysfunctional homes are most at risk. Causes of violence include lack of education, substance abuse, gender inequality and culture norms. The document concludes by calling for empowering women, punishing perpetrators, and ensuring access to support services to end violence against women and girls.

1. Physical and Sexual Violence
Emna Fitouri
Sylvia Chivunda
Stephanie Darmanin
Hasiniaina Rahamelosolo

2. What is Physical and Sexual
Violence?
• FGM (female genital mutilation)
• Prenatal sex selection
• Female infanticide
• Sexual trafficking
• Sexual exploitation
• Sexual harassment and rape
• Hitting, acid throwing, burning

3. Health Impact
• Mental disorder (greater risk of depression and post-
traumatic stress)
• STDs (Sexual transmitted diseases) – mostly HIV and
AIDS
• Decreased sexual desire and pain during sexual
intercourse
• Urinary tract infections and chronic pelvic pain
• Infertility
• Extreme pain from FGM
• Fibroids and genital irritation
• Unwanted pregnancies
• Lifelong disabilities

4. Who is mostly at risk?
• Girls and young women
• Young age
• With physical disability
• Mental vulnerable
• With low level of education
• Living in poverty
• Living in dysfunctional homes
• People with different sexual orientation
• Coming from rural areas
• Refugees and immigrants
• Those not financially independent
• Coming from culture of honour killings / where dowry is given a lot of importance
• Coming from countries with political tensions or during wartimes
• Abused during childhood
• Women subordinate to their employers especially in countries where gender
equality is still sensitive

5. What causes the perpetrators to be
violent?
• Bad parental examples
• Sexual pleasures
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Boredom and anger due to peer pressure (to be part of a gang)
• Jobless men who need to demonstrate their superiority because
they can no longer have patriarchal control or give economic support
• Xenophobia and racism
• Provoking attitudes from girls or women (eg wearing sexy clothes)
• Coercive sexual fantasies, generally encouraged by access to
pornography
• Lack of education and lack of awareness of the impacts of
physical violence on women
• They know that their partners won’t talk about this because they fear
divorce, lack of trust in authorities, shame and family reputation

6. Cultural Realities
• Rape may occur in public, with passerby refuse to intervene
• Victims may be treated leniently by the police, particularly if the
assault is committed during a date or by the victim’s husband
• Extremely lax or else corrupt investigations eg. legal papers being
‘‘lost’’ in return for a bribe
• The idea that if men are HIV positive and they have sexual
relationships with girls who are clean they cure themselves
• Dishonour killings in certain countries
• Gender inequality where men feel dominant and the women is
subordinate
• Cultures in which guns are heavily used leads to more killings
• Countries which still do not punish marital rapes
• The idea that women are not supposed to speak their minds nor to
complain therefore they tend to endure silently instead of speaking
out against any form of violence

7. What needs to be done
• Toll free numbers should be made available to victims of violence for
them to get legal and psychological support (point 1 of Written
Statement)
• Local governments have to make sure that perpetrators are severely
punished by the law
• Staff training to officials dealing with victims and perpetrators
• Zero tolerance awareness campaigns to make men aware of the
negative impact of violence and on the corresponding punishment
perpetrators
• Girl campaigns to make them aware of their rights and the different
forms of violence and to be encouraged to speak out against violence
• Women should be empowered in order to be financially independent
from men so that they have control other their own lives
• Girls should be given full and free access to education so that they
grow up to be fulfilled and independent citizens who can stand up for
their rights
• Psychological and legal assistance to all victims no matter what

8. Conclusions
• Every woman has the right to physical and mental integrity.
• Women and girls have the right to control their bodies and have sex when they
want
• Every woman has the right to a safe living without physical and sexual violence
• Power and tradition should never come before the woman's well-being (point 7
of Written Statement)
• Women must have the right to access services and such services must be
available.
• Research on all aspects of violence must be stressed (point 9 of Written
Statement)
• Justice with victims must be done and seen to be done (point 8 of Written
Statement)
• Governments must be committed to end physical and sexual violence (para
283)
• NGOs and governments should invest more in non-formal education and call to
action (point 5 of Written Statement)
• Networks of public and private organizations should be formed to carry out
programmes to prevent violence against women and girls should be
strengthened. (point 2 of Written Statement)